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Automate your amicable debt recovery with AI

Amicable debt recovery is the process of collecting outstanding debts through direct negotiation with the debtor, without going to court. GetBill automates this process using AI voice agents and multichannel outreach.

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What is amicable debt recovery?

Amicable debt recovery is the process of obtaining payment of an outstanding debt through non judicial means. It relies on sending reminders (email, SMS, postal mail, phone calls), proposing payment plans and negotiating directly with the debtor. In France, the amicable phase is the mandatory first step before any legal proceedings, in accordance with Article 56 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

Unlike legal debt recovery, which involves court proceedings (payment orders, litigation, seizure), amicable recovery preserves the business relationship, costs significantly less and produces results faster. It is the preferred method for companies that want to maintain a healthy relationship with their clients while collecting their receivables.

Amicable vs legal debt recovery

Criteria Amicable recovery Legal recovery
Average timeline 1 to 8 weeks 6 to 18 months
Average cost < 1 euro per case (automated) 500 to 5,000 euros (lawyer + bailiff fees)
Client relationship Preserved Often damaged
Success rate 60 to 80% (recent receivables) 40 to 60% (depends on solvency)
Complexity Simple, can be automated Legal procedures, lawyer often required
Legal framework Flexible (within GDPR limits) Governed by civil procedure law

Average timeline

Amicable recovery 1 to 8 weeks
Legal recovery 6 to 18 months

Average cost

Amicable recovery < 1 euro per case (automated)
Legal recovery 500 to 5,000 euros (lawyer + bailiff fees)

Client relationship

Amicable recovery Preserved
Legal recovery Often damaged

Success rate

Amicable recovery 60 to 80% (recent receivables)
Legal recovery 40 to 60% (depends on solvency)

Complexity

Amicable recovery Simple, can be automated
Legal recovery Legal procedures, lawyer often required

Legal framework

Amicable recovery Flexible (within GDPR limits)
Legal recovery Governed by civil procedure law

How GetBill automates amicable debt recovery

  1. 1

    Import your receivables

    Connect your accounting software (Pennylane, Sage, Cegid), use the REST API or import an Excel file. New overdue invoices are synchronized automatically.

  2. 2

    AI contacts your debtors

    The voice AI agent calls each debtor, holds a natural conversation, analyzes the situation and negotiates a payment plan. Available evenings and weekends.

  3. 3

    Coordinated multichannel reminders

    Alongside calls, GetBill sends reminders by email, SMS, RCS and postal mail following a scenario tailored to each debtor profile.

  4. 4

    Debtor pays via self service

    The debtor receives a link to their personalized portal (68 languages), reviews their debt, negotiates a payment plan and pays online via one of 10+ payment methods.

Benefits of automated amicable recovery

Reduced cost

Less than 1 euro per case processed, compared to 15 to 50 euros for an external provider or thousands of euros in legal proceedings.

Fast execution

Reminders start from the first day of delay. 40% of cases are resolved without human intervention thanks to AI.

Guaranteed compliance

Every interaction complies with GDPR and the European AI Act. Full traceability, access and deletion rights built in.

Relationship preserved

The amicable approach maintains dialogue with your clients. The AI adapts its tone and proposes personalized payment solutions.

Frequently asked questions about amicable recovery

Amicable recovery involves collecting a debt through direct negotiation (reminders, calls, payment plans) without going to court. Legal recovery only comes into play when the amicable phase fails: it involves legal procedures such as payment orders or litigation. The amicable phase is faster, less costly and preserves the business relationship.

In France, an amicable resolution attempt is strongly recommended and, in many cases, required by the judge before initiating proceedings. Article 56 of the Code of Civil Procedure requires proof of efforts made to resolve the dispute amicably. Failure to comply may result in the claim being rejected or proceedings being stayed.

The cost depends on the method. Internally with an automated tool like GetBill, the cost is less than 1 euro per case. Through a collection agency, expect 10% to 25% of the recovered amount. By comparison, legal proceedings cost between 500 and 5,000 euros per case (lawyer, bailiff and court fees).

With an automated tool, initial results appear within days. On average, 40% of cases are resolved within the first two weeks. The complete amicable phase typically lasts between 1 and 8 weeks, compared to 6 to 18 months for legal proceedings.

GetBill automates the entire amicable phase: import receivables from your accounting software, automatic AI voice calls, multichannel reminders (email, SMS, RCS, postal mail), debtor self service portal with online payment. The AI adapts to each debtor and transfers sensitive cases to a human advisor.

Ready to automate your amicable recovery?

Schedule a personalized demo and discover how GetBill can transform your collection process.

Quick deployment No commitment GDPR & AI Act compliant
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